Height adjustable diving tower and ladder assembly therefor

ABSTRACT

A Diving Tower, adjustable in height and operated by means of a hydraulic ram assembly, the said lifting ram assembly being powered by a hydraulic power unit and by a plurality of annular compression chambers. A mobile ladder is attached at one end to the diving tower and is equipped with steps designed to swivel up at one end around pivot pins positioned on one of the two uprights which constitute the ladder, while the other end of the same steps would normally rest on stop pins fixed in the opposite upright. The uprights are formed with a U-shape longitudinal groove, or equivalent, to receive the ladder step ends, and with a longitudinal cavity to form the outer body of telescoping inlet and outlet fluid line assemblies for a pressurized fluid. Two guide cushion rails are fixed to a ladder protective box and are used to positively guide the mobile ladder uprights. A spray coating is provided on the cushion rails to prevent gripping and corrosion.

[4 1 Sept. 2, 1975 United States Patent [191 Avon 3,415,169 12/1968 Naddell. 92/53 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE DIVING TOWER AND LADDER ASSEMBLY THEREFOR [76] Inventor:

Urbain Avon, 5671 des Plaines,

Germany 54,965 7/1943 Netherlands....... 646,883 11/1950 United Kingdom....

Montreal, Quebec, Canada, HIT 2X2 792,901 4/1958 United Kingdom................. 182/207 22 Filed: .Nov.20, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT A Diving Tower, adjustable in height and operated by Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 140,330, May 5,

means of a hydraulic ram assembly, the said lifting ram assembly being powered by -a hydraulic power unit and by a plurality of annular compression cham- Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 23, 1971 886696 bers. A mobile ladder is attached at one end to the diving tower and is equipped with steps designed to swivel up at one end around pivot pins positioned on one of the two uprights which constitute the ladder, while the other end of the same steps would normally rest on stop pins fixed in the opposite upright. The uprights are formed with a U-sl'lape longitudinal groove, or equivalent, to receive the ladder step ends, and

3 RN2 7 5 29 2 8 9M% 2 6.,m2 5 AR 28 "3 9O 9 2 4 56 W W M 7.1m 2m "%8 l WHZ Q m a mmoo m l m Th m mm n We a S3 L C 3% s mm U IF U EM 5 with a longitudinal cavity to form the outer body of [56] References cued telescoping inlet and outlet fluid line assemblies for a UNITED STATES PATENTS pressurized fluid. Two guide cushion rails are fixed to 272/66 a ladder protective box and are used to positively guide the mobile ladder uprights. A spray coating is 92/52 provided on the cushion rails. to prevent gripping and corrosion.

6 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 2,212,460 8/1940 Stephenson........................... 2,586,149 2/1952 Coble........

2,634,587 4/1953 2,800,234 7/1957 Herpich et 2,975,857 3/1961 Suroff et al......

PATENTED 2I975 SHEET 1 BF 4 PATENTEL' 35F 2 975 sum 2 [1F 9 PATEWEU SE? 2 I975 l I l I FIG."

FIG.12

HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE DIVING TOWER AND LADDER ASSEMBLY THEREFOR CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is a continuation-in-part of my previous application Ser. No. 140,330. filed May 5, 1971.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Reference to Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the Hydraulic Diving Tower showing (a) the swiveling steps of the alternative mobile ladder and its relation to the back end plate of the platform, the protective box being sectioned to show the ladder, (b) the two alternative mechanical control assemblies mounted separately within each guard rail located at both sides of the platform, one of these control assemblies being used for the fulcrum adjustment valve and the other one being used for the lifting ram assembly valve, (c) the lower rings of the annular compression chambers with the lifting ram assembly sectioned at the axis to improve clarity, (d) a simplified schematic view of the hydraulic power unit connected to the fluid lines, (e) one of the two guard rails, as sec tioned, to show clearly the second mechanical control assembly mounted within the other guard rail hidden behind the from one.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectioned view of the two mechanical control assemblies involving a sliding member, normally held by two springs in a central neutral position and designed to slide in the housing by means of a small hand lever projecting downwardly under the said mechanical assembly.

FIG. 3 is a top auxiliary view of the mobile ladder with swiveling steps, as set in a protective box together with the guide cushion rails for the uprights, and also telescoping inlet and outlet fluid line assemblies partly formed by means of the uprights of the said ladder; section line 4 4 is provided in relation to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional side view through line 4 4 of FIG. 3. Line 3 3 shows the location from which FIG. 3 was taken, and section 5 5 is provided in relation to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a schematic top auxiliary view showing a section through the lower part of the telescoping inlet and outlet fluid line assemblies illustrated by FIG. 6. Section line 6 6 is provided in relation to FIG. 6. A complete schematic view of the hydraulic power unit shows the connections to the supply and return fluid lines.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional side view of the lower part of the telescoping inlet and outlet fluid line assemblies, the two assemblies being identical in construction.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the lower inner ring of the outer cylinder of each annular compression chamber pointing out the integral protrusions which assure a minimum volume for the said annular compression chambers.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the lower inner ring shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the mobile ladder with swiveling steps. One of the two uprights is partly cut along section line 9 -9 of FIG. 10 to show a section through one of the swiveling steps.

FIG. 10 is a front auxiliary view of a swiveling step, showing in dotted lines the swiveling action of the said step. The two uprights are sectioned to improve clarity.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a swiveling step as supported by a pivot pin in order to swivel at one end while the other end normally rests on a stop pin. The two uprights are sectioned to improve clarity.

FIG. 12 is a top end auxiliary view of the mobile lad. der, as illustrated in FIG. 9, showing a swiveling step located between the two uprights which are shown in section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

The present alternative for a mobile ladder assembly 44 FIG. 1 is based on a U-shape longitudinal groove 29 FIG. 5, or equivalent, forming part of the uprights 1 and provided to receive the ends of swiveling steps 2] FIG. 12, and is also based on the longitudinal cavities 30 forming part of same uprights. The said longitudinal cavities are designed to be used as the outside members of the telescoping fluid line assemblies. This alternative mobile ladder is rigidly fixed to the back end plate 2 FIG. 1 forming part of the Diving Tower platform 8.

A hydraulic power unit, FIG. 5, is provided, consisting ofa reserve tank 41 a hydraulic pump 34 an electric actuating motor 35 for the pump, energized by means of a pressure switch 37 that opens the electric circuit 36 whenever the pressure in the accumulator 38 reaches a predetermined maximum pressure limit; a check valve 39 is added to maintain the working pressure of the hydraulic system. I

The longitudinal cavity 30 FIG. 4 provided all the way long, inside each of the two uprights 1, will be closed at the upper end by means of a plug 24, welded or screwed to the upper end of cavity, and under said plug outlet connectors 33 FIG. 4 will provide junctions for the inlet or outlet fluid lines 17. One of these two fluid lines, being the inlet one, will lead the pressurized fluid from the corresponding telescoping feed assembly to both the control valve 4 of the lifting assembly, FIG. 1, and also to the fulcrum adjustment control valve 3 while the other fluid line will serve for both valves 3 and 4 as a common return line to the reserve tank 41. Both the control valve 4 for the lifting assembly and the control valve 3 for the fulcrum adjustment will be operated separately by means of shielded cables 16 FIG. 1 leading to the separate mechanical control assemblies 7 FIG. 2 mounted within each of the two guard rails 6 FIG. 1.

Each step 21 of the ladder assembly 44 FIG. 1 will be free to swivel up at one end around a pivot pin 32 FIG. 10 fixed at right angle to the legs of the U-shape longitudinal groove 29 of one upright l and the other end will normally rest over a stop pin 31, fixed at right angle to the legs of U-shape longitudinal groove of the opposite upright. This design allows the steps to swivel up at one end to avoid accidental injuries whenever the ladder moves downward and something happens to rest on the ground under the steps.

The ladder uprights will be guided up and down by cushion rails 23 FIG. 3, firmly attached to the ladder protective box 18 which is fixed to the base member 22 of the Diving Tower. Said cushion rails 23 will start at the level of the upper end of said protective box 18 or cage, or slightly above, and extend down low enough within said protective box to guide firmly the mobile ladder uprights. The contact surface of the said cushion rails 23 with the ladder uprights 1 will be coated with Teflon S, or equivalent spray coating material. in

order to prevent the uprights from gripping on the cushion rails and also to avoid corrosion of the said cushion rails.

With the original prototypes, the annular compression chambers 10 FIG. 1 were created in a space located between the lifting unit cylinders and sealing rings 9 and 11; then, to assure a minimum volume for the compression chambers, round spacer posts, or the equivalent, had to be screwed or fixed to the top surface of the lower sealing rings 11. An alternative to these round spacers are the integral protrusions 27 FIG. 7 forming part of the lower sealing rings 11 and protruding over their top surface in such a way as to prevent any partition to be created within the annular compression chambers. This objective is realized by providing a free space all around said protrusions 27. These protrusions will prevent the upper sealing rings 9 FIG. 1 from making full contact with the top surface of the lower rings 11 whenever the lifting cylinders move downward and thus assure a minimum volume for the annular compression chambers 10.

The first prototypes were also equipped with miniature hydraulic valves mounted within the guard rails 6 FIG. I. An alternative to these miniature hydraulic valves is the two mechanical control assemblies 7 FIG. 2, actuating shielded l rigid cables 16 to operate separately a standard mechanical main-valve 4 FIG. I, being the control valve for the lifting assembly, and also a standard mechanical four-way valve 3 to action the fulcrum adjustment cylinder 5. The sliding members 13 FIG. 2 of these two mechanical control assemblies to which the rigid cables 16 will be securely joined will be normally kept in a neutral central position by means of two centralizing springs 12 provided with a threaded adjustment plug 48. The standard mechanical mainvalve 4 FIG. 1 when actuated by the corresponding mechanical control assembly 7 gives the opportunity to connect the annular compression chambers to the hydraulic power unit supply line 42 in order to procure the lift movement or to the reserve tank 41 return line 43 in order to obtain the downward movement of the whole lifting assembly under its own weight, the rate of movement being controlled by a calibrated inlet orifice 47 governing the pressurized fluid entering the annular compression chambers. A standard mechanical fourway valve 3 gives the opportunity to the diver to vary the location of the fulcrum point affecting the flection characteristics of the diving board. This is done by means of said four-way valve which has three different settings in relation to the two ports 49 and 50 of the fulcrum adjustment actuating cylinder 5. One of said settings, corresponding to the central neutral position of the mechanical control 7 blocks ports 49 and 50 to the flow of hydraulic fluid and keeps the fulcrum roller support frame at any fixed position on its travel, the second setting connects port to the supply line 42, and port 49 to the return line 43, so pulling said frame 45 backward to increase the bending moment applied to the diving board, the third setting connects port 50 to the return line 43, and port 49 to the supply line 42, so pushing same said frame 45 in the opposite direction to decrease said bending moment.

A more detailed analysis of the aforementioned annular compression chambers and of the fulcrum adjustment can be found in my copending application Ser. No. 140,330 which is incorporated herein by reference thereto,

I claim:

1. In the combination of a pressurized fluid controlled diving tower assembly, a pressurized fluid controlled fulcrummed platform assembly fixed to and carried by said tower, and means for adjusting the height of said tower means, the improvement comprising a ladder assembly, said ladder assembly including (a) a hollow protective box; (b) a ladder, housed within said protective box, having an upper end and a lower end, with said upper end fixed to said platform assembly thereby moving with any adjustment of said tower assembly', (c) said ladder comprising a pair of U-shaped oppositively positioned uprights with one upright having a smooth U-shaped inner face and the other upright having pins spaced along its inner face throughout its length, a plurality of steps spaced along and pivotally mounted at one end to said one of said uprights and having its other end resting on said pins of said other of said uprights: and ((1) guide rails fixed to opposite sides of said protective box and having an inner surface configuration so as to accommodate the outer surface configuration of said uprights.

2. In the combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said diving tower assembly includes a plurality of interfitting cylinders, one of said cylinders being mountable in a fixed position and the other of said cylinders being telescopically movable with respect to said one cylinder, a pair of annular sealing rings interfitted between adjacent cylinders, each of said pairs of sealing rings having an upper sealing ring and a lower sealing ring, the space between said upper and lower sealing rings constituting an annular compression chamber for receiving pressurized fluid therein, each of said annular compression chambers operatively related to each other by way of openings in adjacent cylinders.

3. In the combination as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said lower sealing rings has a plurality of upstanding integral protrusions projecting upwardly into said annular compression chamber in order to prevent the upper sealing rings from making a full contact with the top surface of the lower sealing rings whenever the cylinders are moved downward and will thereby assure a minimum volume of hydraulic fluid within the com pression chamber.

4. In the combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said uprights has a longitudinally extending opening throughout its entire length, pressurized fluid feed lines located within said openings, said feed lines connected at the upper end of said ladder assembly to said adjusting means.

5. In the combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said adjusting means includes a feeding tube connected to said feed lines, a lifting assembly and control valve therefor, a fulcrum adjustment assembly and control valve therefor, and mechanical control assemblies for independently operating the lifting and fulcrum assemblies, said feeding tube operatively connected to both of said control valves thereby supplying both assemblies with pressurized fluid, said lifting assembly operatively connected through an opening in the inner most cylinder to the first annular compression chamber thereby providing pressurized fluid to said first annular compression chamber and by way of said openings in adjacent cylinders to the other annular compression chambers, said mechanical control assemblies including a slidable handle connected to cables which are operative connected to the control valves for each of the an anti-friction coating in order to minimize friction belifting and fulcrum assemblies. tween the guide rails and the uprights during movement 6. In the combination as defined in claim 1, wherein of the uprights. the inner surfaces of said guide rails are provided with 

1. In the combination of a pressurized fluid controlled diving tower assembly, a pressurized fluid controlled fulcrumMed platform assembly fixed to and carried by said tower, and means for adjusting the height of said tower means, the improvement comprising a ladder assembly, said ladder assembly including (a) a hollow protective box; (b) a ladder, housed within said protective box, having an upper end and a lower end, with said upper end fixed to said platform assembly thereby moving with any adjustment of said tower assembly; (c) said ladder comprising a pair of U-shaped oppositively positioned uprights with one upright having a smooth U-shaped inner face and the other upright having pins spaced along its inner face throughout its length, a plurality of steps spaced along and pivotally mounted at one end to said one of said uprights and having its other end resting on said pins of said other of said uprights: and (d) guide rails fixed to opposite sides of said protective box and having an inner surface configuration so as to accommodate the outer surface configuration of said uprights.
 2. In the combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said diving tower assembly includes a plurality of interfitting cylinders, one of said cylinders being mountable in a fixed position and the other of said cylinders being telescopically movable with respect to said one cylinder, a pair of annular sealing rings interfitted between adjacent cylinders, each of said pairs of sealing rings having an upper sealing ring and a lower sealing ring, the space between said upper and lower sealing rings constituting an annular compression chamber for receiving pressurized fluid therein, each of said annular compression chambers operatively related to each other by way of openings in adjacent cylinders.
 3. In the combination as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said lower sealing rings has a plurality of upstanding integral protrusions projecting upwardly into said annular compression chamber in order to prevent the upper sealing rings from making a full contact with the top surface of the lower sealing rings whenever the cylinders are moved downward and will thereby assure a minimum volume of hydraulic fluid within the compression chamber.
 4. In the combination as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said uprights has a longitudinally extending opening throughout its entire length, pressurized fluid feed lines located within said openings, said feed lines connected at the upper end of said ladder assembly to said adjusting means.
 5. In the combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said adjusting means includes a feeding tube connected to said feed lines, a lifting assembly and control valve therefor, a fulcrum adjustment assembly and control valve therefor, and mechanical control assemblies for independently operating the lifting and fulcrum assemblies, said feeding tube operatively connected to both of said control valves thereby supplying both assemblies with pressurized fluid, said lifting assembly operatively connected through an opening in the inner most cylinder to the first annular compression chamber thereby providing pressurized fluid to said first annular compression chamber and by way of said openings in adjacent cylinders to the other annular compression chambers, said mechanical control assemblies including a slidable handle connected to cables which are operative connected to the control valves for each of the lifting and fulcrum assemblies.
 6. In the combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner surfaces of said guide rails are provided with an anti-friction coating in order to minimize friction between the guide rails and the uprights during movement of the uprights. 